There are reasons why you need to start consuming okra if you have not been taking it before. It harbours a lot of nutrients.
A lot of people consume citrus fruits (oranges, limes and lemons) in order to obtain vitamin C, Little do they know that okra is a great source as just 5 pieces of big okro contain 26% of the vitamin C your body needs daily.
I do not need to tell you how important vitamin C is to your body. It protects it against sicknesses and Infections. It also equips your white blood cells to fight against infections when they come.
Abelmoschus esculentus, also known as okra, also helps to lower high blood sugar level. Are you diabetic or prediabetic? If you are, you need to make okra one of your best foods. Even if you are not diabetic or prediabetic, you still need to eat okra regularly because it will help to keep your blood sugar level on a healthy level.
“If you are already taking diabetes medication like Metformin, you need to be careful with eating okra as it could interfere with the effectiveness of the drug.”
Sometimes referred to as “lady’s finger,” okra, also helps to lower heart disease risk as high cholesterol levels are associated with a greater risk of heart disease. Okra contains a thick gel-like substance called mucilage, which can bind to cholesterol during digestion, causing it to be excreted with stools rather than absorbed into your body.
Moreso, okra contains a type of protein called lectin, which may inhibit the growth of human cancer cells. One test-tube study in breast cancer cells found that the lectin in okra may prevent cancer cell growth by up to 63% (12Trusted Source).
Another test-tube study in metastatic mouse melanoma cells discovered that okra extract caused cancer cell death (13Trusted Source).
Another possible heart benefit of okra is its polyphenol content. One 4-year study in 1,100 people showed that those who ate a diet rich in polyphenols had lower inflammatory markers associated with heart disease (11Trusted).
Eating too much okra can, however, affect some people.
Gastrointestinal problems: Okra contains fructans, which is a type of carbohydrate. Fructans can cause diarrhea, gas, cramping, and bloating in people with existing bowel problems.
Also, K1, which is present in okra, is a fat-soluble vitamin that’s known for its role in blood clotting.
